HR0588LRB099 12745 RLC 36538 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Four out of five children aged 2 to 17 in the 
3United States live in a home in which either they or their 
4parents access the Internet; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Youth who create Internet content and use social 
6networking sites are more likely to be targets of 
7cyber-bullying; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS,
Some parents use social media as a means to 
9discipline, embarrass, or coerce their child in order to 
10correct behavior in their child that the parents believe is 
11inappropriate; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, This type of online victimization is associated 
13with emotional distress and other psychological problems, 
14including depression; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Cyber-bullying, especially by parents, can cause 
16psychological harm, including depression, negatively impact 
17academic performance, safety, and the well-being of the child 
18and in some cases lead to extreme violent behavior, including 
19murder and suicide; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Sixty percent of mental health professionals who 
 
 
HR0588- 2 -LRB099 12745 RLC 36538 r

1responded to the Survey of Internet Mental Health Issues report 
2having treated at least one patient with a problematic Internet 
3experience in the previous 5 years; many of these clients were 
4under 18 years of age; therefore, be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
6NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
7urge Congress, consistent with the First Amendment to the 
8United States Constitution, to pass a law prohibiting parents 
9from cyber-bullying their children by posting messages or 
10images on social media sites on the Internet that embarrass, 
11intimidate, coerce, harass, or cause substantial emotional 
12distress to their children; and be it further
  
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be 
14forwarded to each member of the Illinois Congressional 
15delegation.